You haven’t really lived life until you’ve become an aunt. Everything before this moment basically becomes less awesome and with the more nieces and nephews you get, the less you understand how people live without these awesome little people. They’re the best parts of your brothers or sisters and, if you’re lucky like me, they end up looking and acting exactly like you. You get tiny humans to love, cuddle and spoil rotten. You get give them all of the sugar and let them stay up late and have pop with dinner. It’s the best thing that could ever happen to anyone—ever.
Now, imagine something as awesome as this times ten. Not only do you get an endless amount of happiness just from being around them, but they get excited to see you. Like, really excited to see you. Any amount of time that you spend away from them feels like an eternity and they feel the exact same way. They miss you, they draw you pictures and write you letters, they have mommy call you so they can talk to you, they keep little knick-knacks from school to give you, they save all their stories for when you’re there—this is what it’s like being the favorite aunt. And believe me, it’s the most important thing you could ever do.
Being an aunt is the most fun I have ever had in my entire life and I get to do it every day of my existence. But being the favorite aunt is an entirely different experience. I love my aunts, but I can’t tell you with all honesty that I’m as excited as a Christian meeting Jesus when I see them. And I bet you can’t either. However, this is exactly, if not more, how excited my nieces and nephews when I get to see them. With every extra scoop (or two…) of ice cream, extra minute of snuggle time or extra game played, my heart grows that much fuller. I am humbled, I’m appreciative and I’m loved beyond measure. You know what’s even better? I love them even more.
Being the favorite aunt has taught me how to love myself and be proud of who I am as a person. If I fail this exam, it’s okay, because I’m a fort-building genius. I may have not gone out tonight, but seven kids are going to bed with smiles on their faces because we snuggled and watched a movie instead. No matter what I’m good at, what I’m bad at, what mistakes I make, who I piss off—I have little humans who love me, regardless. Do you know what it’s like to feel that kind of love?
Wherever I go in life and whatever I may or may not accomplish, the most important thing I’ve ever done and will continue to do is be the favorite aunt. I’ve learned more about strength, happiness, selflessness, love and life in general from my babies than I could ever learn in a classroom or at a job. So even if I’m two hours away at school or worlds away working, I have people anxiously waiting for me to come home and kiss their cheeks off. And that will always be enough for me.
Kindaul, Zachariah, Scarlett, Lucas, Izzabella, Daniel, Penelope, Kendel, and Baby Peanut—Babby loves you so much!
